Characterization of Village Chicken Production and Marketing Systems in Chiro District, West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Tarekegn Demeke

doi:10.11648/j.abb.20200803.13

Abstract

The study was conducted to generate comprehensive information on village chicken production, management and marketing systems in Chiro district of West Harerghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Majority of the respondents in the study area were female (66.7%). The largest proportions of household heads in the study area (70%) were illiterate. the overall household income in the study area was generated from agriculture (76.7%). Among agricultural activities, livestock production was contributed 53.3% for the household income. The entire households in the study area were kept exotic chicken ecotype. The major sources of that chicken were gift from governments (60%). Most of the household in the study area was practiced backyard chicken production systems (73.3%). The major objective of raising chicken in the study area was egg production (80%) and Meat production (10%). The majority of the households in the study area were practiced semi-extensive management systems (60%). The entire households in the study area were providing supplementary feed and water for their chicken. The main reason for providing supplementary feed was to increase egg yield (70%) followed by shorting of broodiness (23.3%). the entire households in the study area were hatching the egg by using natural incubation hence broody hens used as a natural incubation. Most of the households in the study area were sold their chicken through formal market (63.3%) for the consumers (83.3%). The major constraints of chicken marketing in the study area were instable chicken price, poor sales/demand seasonality, poor infrastructure, lack of credit /financial support and lack of market place. This finding was put baseline for understanding about production, management and marketing practices of village chicken and serve as a base for designing a sustainable chicken production and management strategies in the study area.

Highlights

In Ethiopia chickens are the most widespread where almost every rural family owns chickens, which contribute greatly to supply of eggs and meat [1]
Group discussion was conducted with extension workers, model farmers and Developmental Agents (DAs) since it is believed that such individuals have better information about the overall production potential of the chicken as well as the production system, husbandry practice and marketing systems The secondary data was collected from the study district office of livestock and fishery resources to complement the production system and agro ecology along with climate, vegetation cover, topography, human population and livestock population
Teaching them would be beneficial to use their indigenous knowledge in scientific way and adopting improved technologies like hatching by incubator, selection of high productive chicken and feeding well ration feed

Summary

Introduction

In Ethiopia chickens are the most widespread where almost every rural family owns chickens, which contribute greatly to supply of eggs and meat [1]. Rural chicken in Ethiopia represents a significant part of the national economy in general and the rural economy in particular and contribute to 98.5% and 99.2% of the national egg and chicken meat production, respectively [2, 3]. About 59.49 million chicken heads with about 90.9%, 4.7% and 4.4% of chicken population are indigenous, hybrid and exotic breeds are found in Ethiopia [5]. Out of these heads, about 33.5% are found in Amhara region. The main advantages of chicken marketing research are defining the needs and nature of customers and their ability and desire to buy, scanning the business environment, gathering needed information for decision-making, reducing risk, helping in production planning and monitoring and Tarekegn Demeke: Characterization of Village Chicken Production and Marketing Systems in

Methods

Results

Conclusion